Neil Graham, a retired contractor and former professional skateboarder, is developing a wave-making system in a remote region of Baja California for the El MezQuital development. The technology will use a submerged wedge traveling on a semicircular track to generate surf-able waves.
The planned prototype, which Graham says can be constructed for approximately $3 million, would be the centerpiece of a $12 million surf park project that includes infrastructure such as roads, walkways, and utilities. Graham’s system is intended to run intermittently, powered by renewable energy and seawater from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
At the core of the MezSurf project is the wedge mechanism—a submerged, mobile structure designed to displace water and create breaking waves. According to Graham, the wedge operates beneath the surface, pushed along a semicircular concrete track installed at one end of a manmade lagoon. The wedge’s motion displaces water in a controlled direction, creating waves that break over an artificial reef system placed on the floor of the pool.
“It works very similarly to the traveling foil concept, like what you see at Lemoore [Surf Ranch],” Graham said in an interview. “The main difference is that instead of moving in a straight line, it operates in a semicircle, which allows us to generate waves while leveraging centrifugal force as an additional energy input.”
The wedge is powered by electric axles referred to as “e-axles”, which are repurposed from transportation technology currently used in semi-trailer trucks. These axles contain embedded electric motors at the differential, reducing the size and complexity of the propulsion system.
To minimize environmental impact and operational costs, the wedge will be powered by solar panels installed on-site. The mechanism will ride along a reinforced guideway, submerged just beneath the water’s surface and lined to accommodate the stresses of repeated use.
The lagoon itself will be excavated from loamy soil and shaped to blend into the surrounding desert landscape. Graham said the pool will be filled with unchlorinated saltwater, pumped in from the nearby coastline. The shoreline will feature natural materials like shells, sand, and rock rather than artificial surfaces to maintain a low visual profile.
Modular Reef System Designed for Adjustability
A key component of Graham’s design is a modular reef system made of pre-cast concrete blocks. These blocks are poured flat, then lifted and positioned within the lagoon using a barge-based crane. Each segment is adjustable and can be relocated to create different wave profiles or skill-level zones.
“These concrete reef sections are chained together at the base to hold them in place and lined with foam padding on top for safety,” Graham said. “As far as I know, it’s the only foam-padded reef design being proposed or used in a wave pool.”
The reef system is designed to create multiple breaks from a single wave pulse. One wave could break for advanced surfers initially, then reform into a wave suitable for intermediate riders, and finally break again for beginners. The ride length is expected to be approximately 600 feet, providing up to 20 seconds of wave time per ride.
The adjustability of the reef blocks allows the pool to be reconfigured for different events or usage scenarios. Graham said the reef could also be altered to add ramps or gaps to support aerial maneuvers or create short rides to accommodate more users during peak hours.
“Most wave pools produce the same wave over and over,” he said. “With movable bathymetry, you can change the bottom contour and wave behavior. That flexibility means you can cater to different styles of surfing and different skill levels, all without rebuilding the pool.”
Move-able bathymetry has yet to be proven in a working wave pool. Most of the major techs have not pursued it for various reasons. Some smaller upstart techs like Infinity Wave Co out of Brazil claim they will use it.
While most artificial wave systems prioritize throughput, given Graham’s remote location, he’s focused on a low-use system. He stated that the operation can be paused for extended periods without expensive restart protocols.
The ability to produce surfable waves intermittently, rather than continuously, means the facility could run on demand, serving as either a private surf resort or a low-volume public attraction. Graham suggested that this model could appeal to property owners or small developers in remote areas.
“I don’t think every wave pool needs to be a theme park,” he said. “This is more about creating a quality wave, not quantity.”
Remote Location Presents Tradeoffs
San Juanico, also known as Scorpion Bay, is located hundreds of miles from major urban centers. It has long been a destination for surfers seeking the intermittent long rights on the point. But its remoteness presents challenges for commercial development.
“There’s no large local market here, but that’s also part of the appeal,” Graham said. “The land is pristine. I already own the property, and there are no neighbors to disturb.”
Graham owns 30 residential lots near the project site and has considered selling them to help finance the construction. He said the wave pool could remain private or open selectively for events and visitors.
Permits for ground-breaking have been secured, and Graham is currently seeking seed funding to build the wedge propulsion system. He said he waited to approach investors until the regulatory groundwork was complete.
“I wanted to have everything lined up before making promises,” he said. “Now that I’ve got the permits, I can start fundraising.”
Though Graham has no formal engineering degree, he has worked in hands-on construction and design for decades. He said his interest in surf mechanics dates back to the early 1970s, when he visited Big Surf in Arizona, an early example of a pump-based artificial wave pool.
“I saw that and thought, ‘There’s got to be a better way,’” he said.
He began experimenting with prototypes in the 1980s and has continued refining his approach ever since. In addition to his surf-related work, he built and designed his own home in Baja and has worked independently as a contractor for much of his adult life.
“I failed calculus three times, but I’ve always figured things out in the real world,” he said.
Editor’s Note: While WavePoolMag doesn’t endorse any one technology or investment, we do celebrate stories and ideas – those little pulses of swell that contribute to the larger wave pool technology canon. This is one such human interest story.
